Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

F. HILDRETH.

THILL GOUPLING.

No. 390,019. Patented Sept. 25, 1888.

Ummm/hoz nur. wnmngfun. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS HILDRETH, OF CLERMONT, NEW JERSEY.V

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming pari: of Letters Patent No. 390,019, dated September 25, 188i Application filed March 16, 1888. Serial No. 267,380. (No model.)

To all whom, may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS HILDEETH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clermont, in the county of Cape May and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thill-Oouplings, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in thill-couplings; and ithas forits object to provide means whereby the wear may be taken up to prevent rattling, and, furthermore, to provide means whereby the thills may be readily attached and detached.

Vith these objects in view the invention conslsts in a certain novel construction and arrangement of devices, fully set forth hereinafter, and specifically pointed out in connection with the accompanying drawings, whereiny y Figure l is a side view. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the pivot, with the rubber block omitted. Referring by letter t0 the drawings7 A designates the axle, under which is arranged the clip-plate B, having the apertures C C therein, through which pass the lower ends of the arms of the clip D. The clip-plate is provided with the forward extension, d,wl1ich is rounded on its under side at the front end, and provided on the upper side with the vertical ears F F, having the vertical slots G G in their upper ends. The rounded portion of the clip-plate comprises a cam,which will be more fully described hereinafter.

H represents the thill-iron, which is provided with the rigid pivot I, having its ends mounted in the slots in the upper ends of the ears F.

K represents a loop-shaped clamp-or clevis having its parallel arms L' k mounted at their upper ends on the laterally-extending ends of the pivot I. This clamp or clevis swings under the rounded end of the clip-plate, and it is provided at the center of its lower end with the thumb-screw L, which is mounted in a tapped aperture, Z, and bears in a groove, M, which is formed in the rounded face of the clip-plate. This screw may bear against the lower side of the clip directly, but the groove lends of the pivot to become dismounted from the bearings.

It will be observed that as t-he lower end of 6o the clamp or clevis swings rearwardly the pivot I is drawn downward in the slots, and therefore, as'the bearings wear, the pivot may be adj usted to prevent looseness.

The web ofthe thumb-screw is provided with the notches N N and O represents a coiled spring, which is attached at its rear end to the under side of the clip-plate, and is provided at its front end with a loop, l?, which engages one of the notches in the thumb-screw. This spring holds the thumb-screw from turning or jarring loose, and thus prevents all displacement of the parts of the coupling.

A block of rubber, R, is attached to the upper side of the clip-plate between the ears, and when the pivot I is drawn down in the slotsG by the clamp or clevis the under side of the bearing at the rear end of the thill-iron bears 011 its upper side and all rattling is avoided.

It will be observed that the invention is simple, the thill is easily attached and detached, the bearings are adjustable to take up wear and the parts are so connected that there is no possibility of a displacement.

If desired, the thill-iron may be mounted loosely on'the transverse pivot, but the rigid pivotherein described isconsidered preferable; also, the rubber block may be omitted, -and the ends of the pivot may bear in the lower ends of the slots G; but I prefer to use the rubber block, as it renders the adjustment easier, and obviates the necessity of frequent adjustment.

Having thus described my invention, I. claiml. In a thill-coupling,the combination of the clip-plate having ears on its upper side pro vided with bearings, the thill-iron having a pivot mounted in the bearings, the clamp or clevis attached to the pivot and passing under the clip-plate, the thumb-screw mounted in the lower ond of the oiiunp` or cievis and having In testimony thab claim the foregoing as my notches N therein, and the spring O, having L own I have hereto aliixed my signature in pres- Ioop to engage one of the said notches to hold ence of two witnesses.

the thumb-screw from turning or jarring loose, 5 substantially as specified.

2. In a, thii1ooup1ing,the combination of the clamp or Clovis engaging the thili-i'ron so as to fitnossesz hold it in position, the thumb-screw to look the ENooH EDWARDS,

clamp or cievis, and the spring O, to engage JOHN B. HUFFMAN. io the thumb Screw, as seb forth.

FR ANC IS I 'If [LDRET H. 

